getverb
Get names a change: you come to have something, come to a place, or come to be in a new state, and it is the usual word for all three.
receive or obtaincome to have something, for example by receiving it, buying it, finding it, or earning it
transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] verb + two objects [V + obj + obj] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj]
- I got a long email from Ana this morning. V + obj
- Where did you get those shoes? V + obj
- Could you get me a glass of water? V + obj + obj
- Omar got the job! V + obj
Collocations
Synonyms receive (receive is more formal); obtain (obtain is formal and suggests effort); run
Antonyms lose
becomecome to be in a new state or condition
linking [L] verb + adjective [V + adj]
- It gets dark early in winter. V + adj
- Hurry up, or we'll get wet. V + adj
- Sara got very angry when she heard the news. V + adj
- I'm slowly getting used to the noise. V + adj (with an adjective plus to)
Synonyms become (become is more formal and more usual in writing); grow
Compare go (go is often for changes for the worse: go bad, go wrong, though also for some neutral changes: go quiet, go missing); turn (turn is for colors and sudden changes: turn red)
reach a placearrive at a place
intransitive [I] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj]
- What time did you get home? V + adv/prep
- It took us two hours to get to the airport. V + prep + obj
- Call me when you get there. V + adv/prep
- How do I get to the station from here? V + prep + obj
Synonyms arrive (arrive takes at or in: arrive at the station); reach (reach takes a direct object: reach the station)
Antonyms leave
bring or movemove or carry someone or something to a place or into a position
transitive [T] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj] verb + object + adverb [V + obj + adv]
- Could you get the bags into the car? V + obj + prep + obj
- We finally got the children to bed. V + obj + prep + obj
- How are we going to get this sofa through the door? V + obj + prep + obj
- Get that dog out of my kitchen! V + obj + prep + obj
Collocations
Compare bring (bring and take say the direction; get stresses the effort or the result); take
cause a statecause someone or something to be in a certain state, or cause something to be done
transitive [T] verb + object + past participle [V + obj + past participle] verb + object + adjective [V + obj + adj] verb + object + -ing form [V + obj + -ing]
- I'm getting my hair cut on Saturday. V + obj + past participle (someone else does it)
- Try not to get your shoes wet. V + obj + adj
- It took a while, but we got the fire going. V + obj + -ing
- I got the date wrong and missed the party. V + obj + adj
Collocations
Compare have (have something done means the same as get something done and is a little more formal)
amanage to do or complete something
transitive [T] verb + object + past participle [V + obj + past participle]
- I got a lot of work done this morning. V + obj + past participle
- Did you get the report finished? V + obj + past participle
- We need to get everything packed before the movers arrive. V + obj + past participle
cause to docause someone to do something, often by asking them, or make a machine or an object do what you want
transitive [T] verb + object + to-infinitive [V + obj + to-inf]
- Can you get Lee to call me back? V + obj + to-inf
- We couldn't get the engine to start. V + obj + to-inf
- It took an hour to get the baby to sleep. V + obj + to-inf
- I finally got him to agree to the plan. V + obj + to-inf
Collocations
Synonyms persuade (persuade is for people and is more formal)
Compare make (make someone do something has no to and means force)
catch an illnessbecome ill with a disease, or begin to suffer from a pain or another problem of the body
transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]
- I think I'm getting a cold. V + obj
- Mari got the flu and missed a week of work. V + obj
- I get a headache if I read in the car. V + obj
Synonyms catch (catch is for illnesses that pass from person to person); develop (develop is more formal)
understandunderstand something, especially a joke, an explanation, or what someone says
transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] verb + wh-clause [V + wh] not used in the passive [no passive] informal
- I don't get it. Why is that funny? V + obj
- Sorry, I didn't get your name. V + obj (hear)
- Did you get what she meant? V + wh
Collocations
Synonyms understand
have the chancehave the chance to do something, or reach the point of doing it after some time
intransitive [I] verb + to-infinitive [V + to-inf]
- We got to stay up late on the last night of the trip. V + to-inf
- Did you get to meet the writer? V + to-inf
- I never get to see my cousins. V + to-inf
take a buscatch a bus, a train, a plane, or a taxi, and travel on it
transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]
- We got the early train into the city. V + obj
- Let's get a taxi. It's too far to walk. V + obj
- I usually get the bus to work. V + obj
Synonyms catch; take (take is the more usual word in American English)
catch or hitcatch, hit, or punish someone
transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] informal
- The police got the thief a week later. V + obj
- The ball got me right on the nose. V + obj
- I'll get you for this! V + obj (a threat, often joking)
Synonyms catch
answer the dooranswer the telephone, or open the door for someone who has knocked or rung
transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] not used in the passive [no passive] informal
Synonyms answer
Only as have got, which has the form of a present perfect but means have now; it is very common in speech: I've got two brothers. Questions and negatives are usually made with do in American English (do you have a minute?) and often with have in British English (have you got a minute?); the past is simply had. Have got to means must: I've got to go now.
transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] not used in the passive [no passive] not used in continuous tenses [no continuous]
- I've got two sisters and a brother. V + obj
- We've got plenty of time, so don't rush. V + obj
- She's got a lot of work to finish tonight. V + obj
Synonyms have (have is used in every style and in every tense)
Phrases
get rid of someone or something
throw away, sell, or give away something you do not want, or make an unwanted person or problem go away
get lost very informaldismissive
go away and leave someone alone
A rude order. The ordinary meaning of get lost, lose your way, is not an idiom: we got lost in the old town.
get nowhere
make no progress, or have no success
Get somewhere means the opposite: make some progress. Get nowhere with someone means fail to persuade them.
get even with someone informal
get there informal
reach your goal in the end, after effort or time
Often said to encourage someone who is making slow progress.
Word family
- getaway
- get together
Choosing between get · become · go · turn
All four say that a state changes. Become is more formal and more usual in writing: he became a teacher; it became clear. Get is the everyday spoken word with adjectives: get tired, get cold, get married. Go is often for changes for the worse or beyond control: go bad, go blind, go wrong, though also for some neutral changes: go quiet, go missing. Turn is for colors and for sudden or complete changes: the leaves turn red; the milk turned sour.
Usage
Get is one of the most common words in speech and is normal in writing too, but some teachers prefer a more exact verb in careful writing. In an essay or a report, a more exact word is often better: receive a letter, obtain permission, become angry, arrive at the station, catch a cold.
Common mistakes
After get and an object, the next verb takes to; only make, let, and have take the bare form.